15 years on and Verónicas is still waiting for promised security cameras
More than 15 years after business owners first began calling for security cameras in Las Verónicas, the busy nightlife zone in Playa de Las Américas, not a single one has been installed. The area, known for its pubs, bars and clubs and frequented mainly by British tourists, continues to face “constant fights and robberies,” according to local businesses.
The Association of Business Owners of Playa de Las Américas and Costa Adeje (AEPACA) says it has been asking for better security since 2010, including more police patrols, particularly at night, as crime in the area has increased. Their president, Víctor Sánchez, said that despite years of promises, nothing has been done. “We were told that the cameras would be installed and that we’d be consulted about the best locations, but we’re still waiting. No one has called or replied to our requests for a meeting,” he said.
In 2021, the Arona Town Hall announced that it had received authorisation from the Spanish Government to install around 20 surveillance cameras between Avenida Rafael Puig Lluvina and Calle Francisco Andrade Fumero, two of the busiest streets in Las Verónicas. However, four years later, the project still hasn’t materialised.
The ongoing lack of security has angered many in the local business community. Michael Bharwani, coordinator of the Círculo de Empresarios y Profesionales del Sur de Tenerife (CEST), said frustration has reached a breaking point. “We’re tired of this. We need a police presence because there are pickpockets and people openly selling drugs in broad daylight. It’s not enough for a patrol car to pass by every couple of hours,” he said.
Concerns grew further after a violent fight broke out during the early hours of 1st November, at the height of Halloween celebrations. A 19-year-old man was left critically injured after suffering multiple blows during a street brawl at around 6 am and had to be rushed to hospital.
The opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) has also criticised the current council, accusing mayor Fátima Lemes and security councillor Alexis Gómez of inaction. Former mayor José Julián Mena, now spokesperson for the socialist group, said the installation plan for cameras in both Las Verónicas and El Fraile had already been “approved, tendered and awarded” under his administration. “We’ve been warning the government group (PP, CC and Vox) for two and a half years about the urgent need for this security system amid rising robberies, fights, and car fires, but nothing has been done,” Mena said. He also accused the council of “wasting €50,000 on empty ‘security conferences’ while residents live in fear.”
Aside from crime, business owners and residents complain about filth and poor maintenance in the area. Both AEPACA and CEST say the early-morning state of the streets is “disgraceful,” with rubbish and broken glass scattered across pavements. “You wouldn’t believe the mess people wake up to when they go for a morning run or walk,” one business owner said.
Local traders insist that installing surveillance cameras and increasing police patrols are vital to restoring safety, confidence and reputation to one of Tenerife’s most famous nightlife areas.
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